Tamron SP 70-200MM F/2.8 DI VC USD Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon EF Cameras (Model A009E)

For all of you out there wondering if this lens is as good as they say it is? It's better. I'm a professional who puts my lenses to use on a daily basis. I expect and demand a lot from them. I'm not a brand whore and don't justify price simply because of it's label. However if there is one thing i have come to realize is that saving money can sometimes cost you money$$. And if there ever is an area of products that this pertains to, Lenses would be it. I have spent a significant amount of time shooting with both the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 mark ii and the Tamron SP 70-200 F/2.8 DI VC USM. And after shooting with both I was extremely surprised with how comparable these two lenses are. You don't have to make an argument for the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 mark ii. It's a beast of a lens that is more then you can ever ask for. I love this age in photography and it astounds me every time i'm able to use products such as this. I fell in love with the Canon and pretty much it was a done deal at least in my mind. Enter Tamrons SP 70-200 f/2.8 DI VC USM. In the past Tamron has always been a an alternative to it's higher priced better quality Name brand Competition. But that's where it usually would end. the Gap was always to big to ever really consider Tamron. Tamron re- invented itself with the SP 70-200 f/2.8 DI VC USM. i mean hit it out of the ballpark with this one. This lens is just amazing. Just as good as the Canon... seriously! it's hard for me to say that but its true. It performs extremely well and really can handle everything I throw at it without a hiccup. Want to talk specifics ok. Lets tackle the points that factor whether or not one should choose the Canon vs Tamron. First up, Build quality: Canon without a doubt wins. Canons build quality is that of a tank. Very well made this thing will last you a good while. If there is one edge that Canon has over the Tamron it's this. That's not to say that the Tamron isn't built good because it is. Very well built in fact. Not all metal construction like its's rival but not cheap either. Auto Focus: Canon has the ever so slightly edges on this and I do mean almost unnoticeable. I mean we are splitting hairs here. The Tamron is quick to focus and I have come to rely on it just as I would the Canon. Image Stablization(IS) vs Vibration Compensation (VC): Tamron takes the cake here. Tamrons VC is fantastic. Better in my opinion than the Canon. You will notice on the Canon it has a choice of two IS modes. One for vertical movement and one horizontal movement. Tamron has no need for two. It's VC system covers it all (every direction) and covers it well. Bokeh: Canon uses 8 aperture blades and Tamron 9. Both producing beautiful creamy Bokeh. I would say they both are equal here and that's a really good thing for us. All said and done They are both great lenses...oh wait I forgot one more thing Price. Almost slipped my mind (ya right): The Tamron is $1000 less. Let me say that again $1000 LESS! Unless you have money to wipe your butt with, that's a thousand dollars you could use to purchase another awesome lens or put it somewhere else you could get more use out of. I don't know about you but Tamron is the clear winner here. Price being the deciding factor for me. You can't over look it. I mean if it was flip flopped and Canon was a $1000 less and Tamron was $1000 more this would never be a debate. Canon would win hands down Canon die hards would be saying are you crazy $1000 less. There would be no Canon vs Tamron. But being that Tamron is the cheaper priced lens and that's an understatement, Tamron is now on trial and has to be the one to defend itself. Not that it needs it. Trust me this lens really steps up to the plate. You can't go wrong with either lens and both will handle everything with ease. But after all said and done Tamron really does it for me. Kudos to Tamron!

I have owned both the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 (first generation) and this lens and this is now my primary lens. You can see some example images from BHC Portrait Photography here: http://www.bhcportraitphotography.com/19-dec-family-portraits/ This is the right lens for me (and is now my primary lens for everything except food/menu photography) because of the high quality images, great color, and the fact that it is a fast lens (f/2.8). It is a killer portrait lens. I'd recommend this lens to someone who: 1. Has money to spend 2. Needs a pro quality lens 3. Photographs portraits/sports/action 4. Wants great bokeh Not the right lens if: 1. You are on a budget 2. You want all your lenses to be from the same manufacturer 3. Are concerned about your image around other photographers (sounds strange, but I know some people this would be an issue) 4. You want another type of lens coating (this lens has a lens coating, but it is likely different than other manufacturers) here is what Tamron says, "Moreover, through the use of “Internal Surface Coatings ( i.e., multiple-layer coatings on cemented surfaces of plural elements)” and multiple-layer coatings to prevent reflections from lens surfaces is reduced to the absolute minimum." - http://www.tamron-usa.com/lenses/prod/assets/pdfs/70_200mmDi.pdf Vibration Control - works very well and makes hand held shots possible at slower shutter speeds if your subject isn't moving too much. Very comparable to other stabilization systems. Focus - tack sharp and fast. I shot with a Canon 6D which is great in low light - so I've had no issues. Color - I create custom profiles with a Color Checker Passport so color is always true and calibrated (highly recommended, really helps your blues) Lens hood - love it since light hitting your lens kills your contrast - always shoot with your lens hood and look to shoot backlit shots from an angle with no sun hitting your lens. Construction - Comparable to any other pro lens Price - you decide Warranty - 6 years, (wish all my lenses and camera had that) Layout (I wish the zoom ring was closer then the focus ring, I'd have laid it out differently than Tamron did) See more example images at www.bhcportraitphotography.com

Used the 70-200 IS II, sold it for some sudden costs that came. Ever since I could not save up for one and regretted my selling. When I bought the Tamron 70-200 VC i thought i am making a compromise in quality. Boy I am wrong! I am shooting some east indian weddings and the lens produces top notch colors and its really really sharp. Using one point AF with the 6D and focus-recompose technique performs outstanding. There is significant amount of vignetting on the edges. For Portraits it actually looks better with the vignetting, but its a one click edit and does not compensate picture quality. Its bit heavier ( like all the 70-200) and the only flaw i find the you need to get adjusted with the zoom ring. Its bit on the front side for me and needs little extra second time to conpose the shots. Very good Bokeh, very solid Build and does not come with a lens bag ( why tamron ? ). But surely , the lens saved my $1000 and if you are amateur or semi-pro, this is what you want.

I bought this product after doing days of research. My intended purpose is for mainly portraits. I have researched forums, different online stores owners reviews etc. I have used my friends Canon 70-200 Mark II on many occasions. That helped me to have an expectation bench mark. I received the lens 2 days ago. I tested using my regular scenarios. To my surprise, I was speechless of the quality it produces. The VC option gave me to take stunning photos with 1/20 stops. Canon version has a margin lead. But for the price, this Tamron beat Canon by miles. Only one in thousand photographers might need what is slightly better in Canon. I am very happy with the product. I bought this lens for the 40% of the price of the Canon version. For the value it is a great product. Yes, it is about little more weight than the Canon lens. Without the collar weight is almost identical to canon. This is my first ever purchase of Tamron product. And I am totally satisfied.

Probably the best 70-200 mm you can get for the price. Images are sharp, AF is quick, USM is reasonably quiet an so far I think the VC works well and certainly does add at least a couple of stops advantage. Negatives include that the lense was shown as coming with a lense cleaner and it didn’t. Not a big deal, but a misleading advertisement as I felt that was just a little extra I was getting. Also it comes with no pouch or container at all. Again, I felt a lense in this price range should come with at least a bag to store it in, but nope. It does however come with a nice deep hood and a tripod collar which is good. The zoom and focus rings are not as smooth as they could be, but they are ok and work fine. Build quality overall is respectable, but not what I would consider refined. It is a heavy lense, but that is to be expected. It is a metal frame and feels nice and solid. I am also a little surprised by the sounds the lense makes. As noted the AF is reasonably quiet, but definitely not silent, especially when tracking a moving subject. Overall it is a good lense and a good value, but I think it may be worth getting the g2 version of it which has terrific reviews. Ultimately if you’re looking to get into a lense of this size it is a good choice and about the best bang for buck going. I would definitely recommend it if you’re budget conscious. If money is not an object, well... you’re probably not reading this review in the first place.

The review. Alright before I start, Yes I've owned and used the Canon 70-200 F2.8L IS II USM so no bias here. Overall with my experience using this Lens is AMAZING, I can even say its much better than the canon in some parts. Break down: -Sharper. -Less chromatic aberration. -Focusing is as fast as the canon ver. -It's black not the off white almost grey canon that looks like you're an attention seeker. IMO. -Bokeh has a much nicer rounded look but sometimes its to hard. (So basically it is a tie, alright let's move on) I actually got this for a backup, but I ended up using this more than the Canon ver. in events so I won't standout too much. Blend in like a ninja in the shadows. Don't get me wrong the Canon ver. is one hell of a lens but this lens is a great alternative. If you're shooting indoors/studio or controlled environment go for TAMRON. If you're shooting outdoors or in the field go for CANON. The only thing I can find that is favourable with canon is. The option for panning. (works wonders) +$500 The build quality is like a tank. (Well unless you're using your lens as a baseball bat then canon is for you) +$800

I bought this lens over a year ago and it has been an absolute dream the entire time. There are numerous online reviews from professionals around the world, so my 2 cents will be on why I gave it 5 stars. I wanted a 70-200 to compliment my 24-105 on my mark iii. I am an enthusiast who has never been paid for a photograph in my life. I take photos for me, but I also appreciate the value of good glass. the Canon 2.8 IS ii was way out of my budget so it was this or the f4 IS. When I saw this lens go down to $1250, the choice was clear. The picture quality is stellar. I love it so much, I lug it around Disneyland to capture those priceless moment with the kids. It really doesnt feel all that heavy, especially with a nice, comfortable neck strap. The tripod collar is a nice inclusion as well.